Alec Baldwin's 'prop firearm' kills one, injures another

Sheriff's office: Alec Baldwin discharged prop gun that killed crew member, wounded director

Baldwin is one of the film's star actors and producers. He went to the sheriff's office willingly and provided a statement to investigators, sheriff's office spokesman Juan Ríos said.

www.santafenewmexican.com

archive.md/jNQZQ

Actor Alec Baldwin discharged a "prop firearm" that killed a cinematographer and injured a the director of the movie Rust, being filmed on a set south of Santa Fe, a county sheriff's office spokesman said late Thursday.

Halyna Hutchins, 42 and the director of photography for the movie, died at University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. The film's director, Joel Souza, was hospitalized in Santa Fe, Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office spokesman Juan Ríos said.

A source closed to the investigation said Baldwin, 63, was questioned by investigators late Thursday and was seen by a New Mexican reporter and photographer in tears.

Investigators are still trying to determine if the incident was an accident, Ríos said. No charges have been filed, and the investigation remains open, Ríos wrote in a news release.

The prop was fired at Bonanza Creek Ranch, where filming was underway, the sheriff's office said in an early evening news release. Baldwin stars in the production.

Hutchins died from her injuries after she was flown to University of New Mexico Hospital, according to the sheriff's office. Souza was taken to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, where he is receiving emergency care, the sheriff's office said. Attempts to get comment from Baldwin were unsuccessful.

“We received the devastating news this evening, that one of our members, Halyna Hutchins, the Director of Photography on a production called ‘Rust’ in New Mexico died from injuries sustained on the set,” John Lindley, the president of the International Cinematographers Guild Local 600, and Rebecca Rhine, the executive director, said in a statement, as reported by Variety. “The details are unclear at this moment, but we are working to learn more, and we support a full investigation into this tragic event. This is a terrible loss, and we mourn the passing of a member of our Guild’s family.”

Deputies were investigating how the accident occurred and "what type of projectile was discharged," the sheriff's office said in an earlier news release.

Rust Movie Productions did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Filming for Rust was set to continue into early November, according to a news release from the New Mexico Film Office. It's described as the story of a 13-year-old boy left to fend for himself and his younger brother following the death of their parents in 1880s Kansas, with New Mexico doubling for Kansas.

Guns firing blanks have been blamed for deaths in past movie productions. Online Hollywood news site Deadline reported, "Actor Jon-Erik Hexum was killed Oct. 18, 1984, on the set of the TV series Cover Up when he accidentally shot himself in the head with a gun loaded with blanks. And in 1993, Brandon Lee, the son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, died after he was shot in the head by a gun firing blanks on the set of The Crow. Both incidents were determined to have been accidents."

This is a developing story and will be updated.

 

[RurkerHivemind]

Seriously. Alec deserves to be meme'd on along with every dumbass responsible.

 

[Pocket Dragoon]

he wouldn't be involved in a production where the AD that was hired got fired from his last production of safety issues and the head armorer wouldn't have had 4 months job experience.

I'm still hunting for the name(s) of those who hired her in the first place. I have a feeling they're a lot like Hannah.

According to the cops, what they pulled out of the director was lead. Now, I'm no gun expert, but I think the primary use of lead when it comes to firearms is as a projectile, right?

Yes; even something like the dummy slug which took out Lee becomes a bullet when propelled from the barrel of a gun.

 

[Shitpiss Babylord]

Yes; even something like the dummy slug which took out Lee becomes a bullet when propelled from the barrel of a gun.

So, just for my understanding, blanks shouldn't have a projectile and dummy slugs shouldn't have a primer or powder charge, yet somehow we ended up with the armorer handing off a gun that had some (functional) combination of all three for use in a scene where the actor points the gun straight at the camera?

 

[SITHRAK!]

David advised he could only remember seeing at least four ‘dummy’ casings with the hole on the side, and one without the hole.

This is in line with what I’ve been saying throughout the thread. The pistol had drilled-case ‘dummy’ rounds so the cylinder didn’t look empty on camera. However a live round was loaded, and this was not cross-checked by each person in the chain between armorer and actor.

I also think that all parties involved should be drug tested. This is a case of negligence and it would be interesting if it turns out that Gutierrez-Reed was blazing up nightly (she certainly looks the type).

Why the fuck are you giving Hannah Gutierrez Reed and David Halls a free pass at this point they are the two most guilty parties. Not to say Baldwin isn't to blame on any level just not to the level they are to blame.

That post reads as holding Baldwin to account, not exonerating anyone else. Your bias is showing.

 

[Getting tard comed]

So, just for my understanding, blanks shouldn't have a projectile and dummy slugs shouldn't have a primer or powder charge, yet somehow we ended up with the armorer handing off a gun that had some (functional) combination of all three for use in a scene where the actor points the gun straight at the camera?

Yes to everything except I'm not sure we know he was pointing it at the camera. Last update I've heard/read is he was practicing a cross draw(drawing the gun across his body) while they weren't filming anything (so the dp + director were probably setting up a shot) and the second time he did it, the gun went off hitting 2 people.

 

[Pocket Dragoon]

Yes to everything except I'm not sure we know he was pointing it at the camera. Last update I've heard/read is he was practicing a cross draw(drawing the gun across his body) while they weren't filming anything (so the dp + director were probably setting up a shot) and the second time he did it, the gun went off hitting 2 people.

What's worse; being shot by Alec Baldwin by accident, or on purpose?

 

[Billy Beer]

Hannah - manslaughter
Hannah's boss - Involuntary Manslaughter
Baldwin - Involuntary manslaughter

(I think they're the right terms)

Hannah's negligence ultimately killed someone. Her supervisor should have done a thorough check to see if she was up for the job. I wouldn't hire Fred Stobbart to drive a HGV full of acid, just because his dad was Eddie.

Baldwin didn't follow safety principles or protocols. EITHER; A gun is so dangerous that nobody should go within 10ft of it unless qualified in not only handling a weapon, but how to 'make-safe' in any situation that weapon is found in, OR, guns aren't that dangerous and Baldwin really fucked up.

The set was a mess by the sounds of it, and not listening to union approved safety advice puts Baldwin in even more hot water, even if he had nothing to do with the shooting.

If, in a manufacturing environment, the fucking union and union workers walk off site due to safety concerns, they are replaced by agency/temp workers, and one of those temp workers is injured or dies, the plant manager, health and safety manager and Production/Operations manager are arrested and held for (worst case) murder. (In the UK at least).

Lots and lots of people messed up, and another poster mentioned the Swiss-Cheese model of errors, and they were spot on. This wasn't one single mistake, but a complete cluster-fuck from all angles. Simply put, the production should have shut down when the union workers left due to safety concerns, if for no other reason than covering your own arse legally.

 

[Iceland Heavy]

How abysmal was Thell Reed's parenting that his kid turned out like this? Was he just not even there most of the time? He's old enough to be her grandfather.

 

[AnnLurker]

yeah you do.

If there is a round lodged in the chamber you need to know how to get it out. Clearly, and obviously, using a gun is dangerous even to those qualified. Police have incidents soldiers do as well as actors.

For unqualified people it is a dangerous weapon, daily misfires happen, people are killed, their kids are killed at home, work and in public.

The very basis of the argument against Baldwin by his critics is the very fact that it is so dangerous, that we should negate the liability of the 2 other people and charge him for it. So clearly, it is life and death.

Clearly, you do need to be qualified.

Ok shithead. If he is unqualified to handle a REAL GUN, then he should have never been handed one.

Any and all guns are dangerous weapons. That is the fucking point.

 

[Particle Bored]

You've got to take it easy and realize every actor on a set does not have this job - and for good reason. We do not want actors making life and death decisions who are not qualified to make life and death decisions. Only people who have had the proper training should make life and deaths decisions. If you put the onus on the actor you negate the 2-check system entirely and allow that to become lax by handing out the responsibility and dipping everyone's hands in blood. No, bad idea - you have 2 people who are clearly and 100% liable and make them know it.

There is a protocol in place for a 2-check system prior to him or anyone even holding the gun. He isn't being charged not because he is Baldwin but because he is in an environment that has a system in place that takes the onus off of the actors - all actors - and rightly so because demanding that Actors become experts on knowing the difference between live rounds, black rounds, rounds with wadding etc. is just silly. Whats next? An Actor sees a dummy round and demands it is taken out, inspected and opened to make sure it is not actually a real round? Let us be realistic. You would not have been charged either if you had been holding the gun. Instead they pay good money for quality armourers and assistant producers to know this process. The Armorer is supposed to have YEARS of training on nothing but this. Yeas of experience following years of training. Giving the same liability to an actor is silly, unless we are going to demand they spend years training - what next? have them become electricians so if they use a power outlet on a set we can say they are liable too if it electrocutes someone?

A 2-check system is clearly a very robust system because these incidents seldom happen.

The focus is rightly on the Armourer and Assistant Director - both of which failed in their duty. Hannah could not have checked the gun properly, and neither did the Assistant Director; so this is extremely lax and is negligent to a criminal level.

The actor could have checked the gun obviously, but when you have two people who have the sole job of saying "I've been trained and paid and my entire purpose on this set is to check the guns and we both checked it and we attest it is completely safe.. I am an expert." then finding the actor that pulled the trigger guilty is an impossible and unrealistic task.

Baldwin will not be convicted not because he is Baldwin but because he was an actor that did not display criminal negligence. As for the Armourer and the Assistant Producer, they fucking said it was a cold gun and it wasn't. That is criminal negligence.

Clearly there is prejudice against Baldwin because if it has been "John Smith who never held a gun before", this forum would be targeting and digging up dirt on the Assistant Producer and Armorer who set "John Smith" up. If the Actor had never held a gun before (as is often the case), the screaming would all be against the 2 fuckheads who fucked up.

And that is exactly what the police are doing - going after those who are actually responsible.

I don't like John Voight, but if it had been him who fired the gun I never would allow my prejudice to get in the way of actual facts of a case.

My prediction is the Armorer will likely be charged; and the Assistant Producer will also be charged - with what exactly I can not say. Of course, we have not been told yet even what the projectile was that killed the poor lady, so early days yet, but I think today the case will be laid before the public with charges announced.

Stop acting like this is quantum physics or molecular biology or some shit. Gun basics, like being able to tell if a chamber is populated, or the difference between a blank, live, and dummy round, is not fucking difficult.

And pointing a gun at someone and pulling the trigger is a life or death decision in and of itself. The four rules of firearm safety are so basic my 8-year-old niece can recite them on command, and adhere to them.

"John Smith who never held a gun before"

Baldwin has been handling guns in movies for years. Maybe at some point he should have learned something about them beyond "If I hold this and look mean and someone films it I'll make a bunch of money."

If there is a round lodged in the chamber you need to know how to get it out.

No you dont. If you can see the back of the casing, and it doesnt slide right out, you can hand it off to someone to clear.

Seems like Alec Baldwin was aiming for some gritty cowboy flick and went a little too hard into his method acting.

Nah, he was aiming for the cameralady.

 

[Corndog]

I wonder if the IATSE strike could or would have inadvertently saved a life, in this case.

 

[SITHRAK!]

the second time he did it, the gun went off hitting 2 people.

It’s interesting that this phrase keeps being used, especially in the media. Some badly-designed or poorly- made semi-or auto weapons can self-charge and potentially fire if dropped (early M-16s and Sten guns were known to do this).

But this was a revolver, which means that the safety was off and either the hammer was cocked and the trigger pulled (if single action) or just the trigger was pulled (if double action). Revolvers don’t just ‘go off’: they require conscious effort to fire. The fact that the trigger had to be pulled to discharge the weapon, and that it was done while the weapon was pointed at two people, makes a strong case for involuntary manslaughter.

I wonder if the local DA was installed by Democrats? And I wonder if good ol’ Alec is chomping at the bit to buy one or more of Hunter Biden’s art masterpieces?

 

[Shitpiss Babylord]

Yes to everything except I'm not sure we know he was pointing it at the camera. Last update I've heard/read is he was practicing a cross draw(drawing the gun across his body) while they weren't filming anything (so the dp + director were probably setting up a shot) and the second time he did it, the gun went off hitting 2 people.

I was thinking of this from the BBC, though I now realize that I may have given Baldwin the benefit of the doubt by assuming that what he was doing was what he was supposed to be doing.

But this was a revolver, which means that the safety was off and either the hammer was cocked and the trigger pulled (if single action) or just the trigger was pulled (if double action). Revolvers don’t just ‘go off’: they require conscious effort to fire. The fact that the trigger had to be pulled to discharge the weapon, and that it was done while the weapon was pointed at two people, makes a strong case for involuntary manslaughter.

reports are saying it was a Pietta made replica of the Colt Single Action Army, and I'm assuming it was also single action like the original

 

[Reporterward]

If someone wants to do some sleuthing how this might progress, one of you lot should look into the political inclinations of the county prosecutor/DA where this took place.
What are the inclinations of the sheriff? Elected or appointed?
And if the latter, what are the inclinations of the county commissioners/executive who do the appointment?
Finally.
Is this a “red” or a “blue” county?
That’ll go a long way towards divining how this case will proceed.

I’d do it myself but am juggling IRL stuff faster than a low-experienced THOT loading prop revolvers.

 

[SITHRAK!]

reports are saying it was a Pietta made replica of the Colt Single Action Army, and I'm assuming it was also single action like the original

Ouch, if true. Yes, that model’s a single-action in .45 long Colt, which is not a small round.
That means Baldwin had the weapon safety-off (EDIT: this model relies on a transfer bar and does not have a ’safety’ in the modern sense), drew it, cocked the hammer, aimed the weapon at two people, and pulled the trigger. All while assuming the weapon was safe, and ignoring the most fundamental rules of firearm safety, which he should have been well aware of after decades of on-set gun use.
Whether he gets fucked in court or not, he certainly deserves to be.

Also that BBC article is clearly written by nogunz for nogunz. I fucking hate it when people use the phrase ‘shoot the gun’ or ‘the gun was shot’. You fire a firearm, you shoot the target. Fucking BBC.

 

[Pocket Dragoon]

Ouch, if true. Yes, that model’s a single-action in .45 long Colt, which is not a small round.
That means Baldwin had the weapon safety-off, drew it, cocked the hammer, aimed the weapon at two people, and pulled the trigger.

And the firearm was malfunctioning previously; either not firing when the trigger was pulled, or worse had something like a hair-trigger from being monkeyed with or heavily worn/abused (like from spinning the cylinder, fanned, etc).

 

[SITHRAK!]

And the firearm was malfunctioning previously; either not firing when the trigger was pulled, or worse had something like a hair-trigger from being monkeyed with or heavily worn/abused (like from spinning the cylinder, fanned, etc).

Yeah I heard about the ‘misfires’, which is an annoyingly vague term. Unintended discharge or hangfire? Who knows?

In any case, if a weapon is consistently failing to fire (in the case of a revolver, it probably means the timing is fucked by stupid nogunz people doing the ‘spin and snap’ with the cylinder) then it’s the armorer’s job to pull the weapon and investigate. However, if the timing was off it would mean that the firing pin isn‘t aligning with the primers, which would in turn mean that the weapon is even LESS likely to discharge accidentally.

Now I may not be one of your fancy Rodeo-Drive-pedicure sportin’ Hollywood gun plumbers, but I wouldn’t trust that pig-nosed tattoo goblin to investigate the number of licks you need to get to the centre of a tootsie pop, let alone figure out why a revolver is misfiring.

 

[Particle Bored]

And the firearm was malfunctioning previously; either not firing when the trigger was pulled, or worse had something like a hair-trigger from being monkeyed with or heavily worn/abused (like from spinning the cylinder, fanned, etc).

I'm not even sure if that's been confirmed or that it wasnt another case of hot rounds in a """cold""" gun. It's single action. Hammers dont cock themselves, and if it was supposed to be a "hot" gun, they shouldnt be running around with cocked hammers on live chambers anyway until it needs to be fired, no matter how rock-solid the weapon (I'm pretty sure those things dont have "safeties"). These articles for the most part are written by firearm-ignorants and tend to mix terminology. And with all the CYA going on, until a real firearm professional goes on record as saying the gun was fault (and why it was at fault), I'm going with more human error.

 

[Make Anime Illegal]

I'm not even sure if that's been confirmed or that it wasnt another case of hot rounds in a """cold""" gun. It's single action. Hammers dont cock themselves, and if it was supposed to be a "hot" gun, they shouldnt be running around with cocked hammers on live chambers anyway until it needs to be fired, no matter how rock-solid the weapon (I'm pretty sure those things dont have "safeties"). These articles for the most part are written by firearm-ignorants and tend to mix terminology. And with all the CYA going on, until a real firearm professional goes on record as saying the gun was fault (and why it was at fault), I'm going with more human error.

Even if the gun malfunctioned, alec baldwin is still at fault for sweeping people and not clearing it himself.

 

[Sweet and Savoury]

Well I guess the big question is how did live ammo get onto the set if both the Armorer and the Set Director said it was never requested or planned to be used?

Normally hot rounds are clearly marked if they're to be used on set to stop this very situation. They normally have a very very noticeable mark, in color (red) to show they are hot and live.

I'm beginning to think my far fetched supposition that some idiot used the prop gun to go target shooting during the down time then didn't bother to remove the hot round left over when they placed it back is close to the truth. Then neither the Armorer or the AD bothered to check the gun before they OK'd it and gave it to Baldwin.

Yah, this is a clusterfuck all around. Many serious errors and lapses happened that resulting in a persons death so I feel charges should defiantly be filed against...someone.

Probably not Baldwin though...he might be a massive asshole with terminal TDS but he was handed a gun he was told by the correct people was safe to use. I'm guess both the AD and the Armorer go to jail and Baldwin eats a fine and lawsuit.